Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:26:25 +0100

No need for subsidies, it is a booming market in the making. And by not adding tariffs it would keep drive all the prices down. I likey :D

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:56:23 +0100

Both Senators McCain and Clinton have suggested a gas tax "vacation" over summer of 08. Assuming an average family uses 15 gallons of gas every week, for the whole 12 weeks of summer that family would save a whopping $33.12 (180*.184)
Wow!!! what a relief!!

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:20:20 +0100

The main roadblock facing proponents of alternative fuels for vehicles is that the technologies and infrastructure required for widespread implementation of the alternative fuels is either not fully developed or simply not available as a technology at the present time. In the case of ethanol, which would be used as an additive for gasoline or diesel fuel, the cost of expanding manufacture of the additive must be weighed against the cost of expanding production for the raw material required for the production of the fuel. Production of ethanol provides two additional problems involving its distribution and use. First, the properties of ethanol make it impossible to transport in a pipeline, which means ethanol can be transported only by truck, train or barge. To reduce distribution costs due to the transport limitations it is important that ethanol production be relatively close to the final distribution point. Second, use of ethanol as a fuel produces less energy than gasoline, which means drivers must make more frequent trips to the pump.

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:04:49 +0100

i have read that hemp would yield significantly more ethanol per acre than corn or any other food crop. Too bad that the general public has been misled to believe that hemp is the same thing as marijuana.

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:59:20 +0100

I agree, I think using food sources as fuel is a recipe for disaster, although I strongly support research into all alternatives to burning fossil fuels, I believe that there are many better fuels than plants that we currently use as a major food source.

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:22:01 +0100

Atta Boy, McCain! We're not talking about helping Joe the good-natured, Iowa corn farmer here. Subsidies for ethanol are subsidies for Monsanto and ADM. Fact is, corn doesn't need any more subsidies. These guys get heaps already. And when the farm bill is more about energy than farming, something has seriously gone awry. Spend the money on plug-in electric cars powered by new nuclear reactors, now we're really talking about progress.

Comment on: Re: Is ethanol overhyped?

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:45:00 +0100

I agree, current evidence suggest corn and soybeans are poor choices for alternate fuels. Using either for fuel substitutes will be inefficient and drive food cost up. The only ones who will benefit will be those receiving the subsidies.

But shouldn%u2019t we look carefully at using sugar cane or switchgrass as potential energy alternatives.